On one side of the pen computer
you’ll find volume rockers, a small button
to turn auto-rotate on or off, a power
slider, headphone jack and an SDXC card
slot that’s compatible with UHS-II. The
other side is equipped with three USB-C
ports and a Kensington security slot.

The rear has slots for an optional
three-position stand, along with an
8MP camera (a 3D RealSense camera
for the 512GB model). A 5MP camera is
available on the front of the device.

WHAT WE LIKED

In addition to the compact size
and weight of the device, we found the
unit to be very responsive. Whether we
used gestures to zoom in and out of
an image, the Express Keys or the Pro
Pen 2, the MobileStudio Pro reacted
quickly and accurately. The new Pro
Pen 2 is four times more sensitive than
its predecessor with 8,192 levels of
pressure sensitivity for both pen tip
and eraser. That’s currently more than
any software supports, but Wacom has
future-proofed this pen with its high
sensitivity levels. Thanks to the matte-like screen having a little bit of tooth, the
Pen has enough traction to make good
contact and not slide across the screen.
The screen itself is bright and clear,
there’s no parallax and, overall, almost
no lag time.

Battery life is also quite good. We
clocked almost six hours of work on a
single charge. The battery takes about
two hours to recharge via one of the
USB-C ports. An optional Wacom
Link ($70) allows you to connect the
MobileStudio Pro to a Mac or PC so
you can use it as you would a standard

Cintiq. And, best of all, the device is
very, very quiet.

WHAT WE DIDN’T LIKE

There’s not much I didn’t like
about the MobileStudio Pro but as a
PC-to-Mac convert, it was difficult to deal
with Windows and it’s annoying update
notifications that appeared while I was
editing. Wacom doesn’t provide a stand
with the MobileStudio Pro, so you’ll have
to shell out an extra $100 for a model
that only provides three angles.

To get the most out of the pen
computer, you’ll need to spend time
customizing all the controls, touch
sensitivity and the pen. The latter may
require some eye-hand coordination to
get the touch just right if you’re used to
a regular stylus, since the nib retracts
slightly when pressure is applied.

HOW IT COMPARES

The closest competitor to the
MobileStudio Pro is probably Microsoft’s
Surface Pro 4. The latter is less expensive—
starting at around $900—but it’s smaller
and less powerful than the Wacom.

The Surface Pro 4 is also designed for
a general audience that wants a small,
portable computer rather than a device
designed for creatives. Of course, the
MobileStudio Pro can double as a
computer, too, but with features like
customizable Express Keys and availability
in larger (and more powerful) models, its
main audience is artists who need and
want to focus on creative applications.

BOTTOM LINE

If your budget is tight and you
want the full power of Windows in a
mobile device, the Surface Pro 4 may
do. But if you’re going to concentrate
on working in Adobe Photoshop or
Lightroom, the Wacom MobileStudio Pro
delivers on all counts. It’s a great piece
of gear.

Theano Nikitas has been covering
photography for over 20 years. Although
she loves digital, she still has a darkroom
and a fridge filled with film.

If you’re going toconcentrate on workingin Adobe Photoshop orLightroom, the WacomMobileStudio Prodelivers on all counts.

RANGEFINDERONLINE.COM 77
photo: flickr.com/nicholas_t | CC BY

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